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New York Knicks: Don't ask the doctors if Antonio McDyess is ready to play. Don't even ask the coaches. Please refer all questions to the man, himself. "I can go when I'm ready," McDyess said in Newsday. "I don't need any approval. Last week, they kind of released me to do what I can. It's my call. If I do feel comfortable and I tell them I'm comfortable, I don't think they would look at me and say, 'Nah, Antonio, you aren't ready.' I definitely think they're just waiting for me to tell them, 'I feel great,' and step out there and play." The former all-star power forward injured for most of the last two seasons is slated to begin full practices with the team this week.

Orlando Magic: Tracy McGrady isn't scoring. Doc Rivers isn't winning. But second-year player Drew Gooden is ready to do his part. "I'm a power forward, but I've got to go out there and hold my own at the '3' [small forward]," Gooden said in the Orlando Sentinel. "It's the best for the team right now. Doc [Rivers] feels he can cause more mismatches with me at the 3. I'm with that." Even if the team is without a true center and already has Juwan Howard who plays a similar game. "So we're really trying to work with him staying down low," Rivers said. "With Drew at the 3, we can really take advantage of some matchups, but he has to get down there and want to take advantage of it."

Los Angeles Clippers: The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Glen Rice is ready and willing to go. "I've got a couple more days to get some practice in, but everything is on schedule," Rice said. "I think I'll be ready, knock on wood. Hopefully, nothing goes wrong in the next couple of days." Rice hyperextended his knee during the preseason and has yet to play for his new team.

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